Stoker for locomotives



Jan. 4, 1938.

w. T. HANNA 2,104,035

STOKER FOR LOCOMOTIVES Original Filed April 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/III] B N m MATTORNLHI" Jan. 4, 193 8 w; r HANNA f 2,104,035

STQKERFCR LOCOMOTIVES Origin-a1 Filed April 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 4, 1933 V UNITED STATES PATENT OF E 2',104,035 f I I I I I STOKE-R FOR LOCOMOTIVES? I William Thompson HannaQCincinnati, Ohio Application April 5, 1929, Serial No. 352,761

. Renewed Novemberzl, 1935 11 Claims. (01. 110-101) 1 hances. the fiowof fuel therethrough and prevents any back pressure.

Another object is to provide a stoker of the above character in which a rising column of fuel is broken up and spread out prior to its delivery to a firing opening and a fire box.

Another object is to provide a stoker mechanism of the character above described which is not only arranged to spread out fuel just prior toits delivery to the firing opening, but which also materially aids the movement of the'fuel toward the firing opening. I I I A further object of the inventionis to provide a stoker mechanism of the above character which permits of ready observation of the flow of fuel. therethrough and unobstructed hand firing, as

may be required under certain circumstances.

These and other apparent objects and advantages are obtained by the means described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section, showing an application of the principles of:the invention to a locomotive and tender the gear 30.

being omitted.

5 Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical sectional view of the fuelsupply housing and the delivery end of the transfer conveyor, taken on the line 2- 2-of Fig. 4. I 1 I Fig.3 is a plan view partlyin section of the 40 mechanism shown in Fig. 2. gj

Fig.4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4, Figs. 2 and 3. I I

Referring to the drawings,. l0 represents the back head of a locomotive fire box having the 4,5 usual grate bars H and firing opening I2. Em-

bracing this opening and rigidly mounted on the outer face of the back head is a fuel conditioning or supply housing l3 which carries,at itslowe r end, an extension or fuel inlet l4, through which 7 50 the housing chamber is extended to encompass the delivery end of a transfer conveyor I5 revolubly supported in a cylindrical conduit l6 coacting with a tender hopper l9 (Figure 1),

The forward end of the conduit I6 is provided with a universal connection with the extension l4 below the deck I! of the locomotive. Thisconnection comprises aspherically shaped member l6a secured to the end of the conduit l6 and journaled in a spherically shaped recess I l-a. in the end of the extension I4. The housing l3 I may be provided with an opening l3a in the rear wall thereof in' alignment with the firing opening l2, to permit hand firing. This opening iii-11 may be'encompassed by a fire door plate as l3--b upon'which may be mounted any suitable l0 type of door. 1

The conveyor l5 has a suitable operative con-. nection (not shown) with a conveyor 18 revolubly mounted within the tender hopper l9 below the tender deck 20. This conveyor I8 is actul5 ated by a suitable power device 2| on the locomotive, through the medium ofatelescopic shaft 22 universally connected thereto at 23 and also universally connected with a shaft (not shown) journaled upon the tender hopper and having a 20 geared connection with a gear 23a secured to the rear end of the conveyor l8.

The form of the housing l3 and its extension I4 is of such a character as to receive the fuel fromthe delivery end of the conveyor l5'andto 25 elevate and deliver it to'a feeding, spreadin dis-, tributing or regulating device and at the same time allow an unusually unrestricted flow of the fuel and prevent the building up of any back' pressure. In other words, the connection which the extension or fuel inlet l4 forms between the conduit I6 of the fuel supply housing I3 is such that there is substantially no restriction to the fiow of fuel from the place where it leaves the end of the screw conveyor I5 until it emerges from I the extension l4 into the housing I 3'. The spreading device comprises two rotary distributing vanes or feeders 24 and 25, suitably journaled in a rear wall of the housing I3, and preferably located directly above the passage I4 in the lower por- 40 tion of the housing through which the coal is elevated. '(The term frear wall refers to that wall away from the firing opening I2, and hereinafter the phrase forward motion of fuel refers to the motion of fuel toward the firing opening.) As shown in Figures 2 and3, the feeders 24 and 25 I are, in effect, tapered worms, mounted on conically shaped axes. I have found this construction has many advantages and is of great practical value. of operation, I may find it desirable to vary the construction of the feeders 24 and 25 by making certain minor changes, suchas, for example, by

changing the slope of the vanes. But with these However, under certain conditions .50.

these worms 24 and 25 bring about, and which will be described hereinafter. As shown in the present embodiment, the axes of the feeders 24 and 25 diverge toward the firing opening l2. With this arrangement of the feeders or spreaders 24 and 25 I accomplish many new and highly desirable results as will be pointed out hereinafter. While I have found this arrangement highly advantageous, and that under general conditions of operation it gives the most effective and practical results, under certain conditions of operation I may prefer to vary the arrangement by changing the angle between the axes to make them parallel or otherwise.

Rotary motion is imparted to the vanes or feeders 24 and 25 from the power device 2| through a driving connection. This connection may be of any suitable character but in the present embodiment comprises a telescopic shaft 26 universally connected at one end with a suitable shaft 21 supported in the rear wall of the housing I3 and having a gear 28 which meshes with gears 29 and 35 secured respectively to the hub portions of the feeders 24 and 25. The opposite end of the shaft 26 has a universal connection with the shaft 3| journaled upon the tender hopper l9 and having secured to its rear end a gear 32 which meshes with the gear 23a. With this unusual arrangement of the spreaders 24 and 25 in the housing l 3, I am enabled to provide them with driving gears 2d and 39 which mesh with a single driving gear 28.

The cross section of the housing extension I4, and also that portion of the housing l3 immediately adjacent such extension, is substantially circular in contour. The cross sectional dimension of the conduit extension M is of the smallest diameter at that portion designated l4--b, this portion being substantially of the same diameter as the inside diameter of the member l6a. Immediately forward of the point I i-b, the inside diameter of the extension I4 is suddenly enlarged as shown in Fig. 2. This serves to give the volume of fuel asudden relief at the time it begins its upward movement through the conduit l 4 and facilitates the elevation of the fuel. Furthermore,

the cross sectional area of the conduit forward and upward from the point l4-bincreases and this also facilitates the more efficient elevating of the fuel to the feeding device. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, that portion of the housing l3 which joins the conduit or extension l4 rapidly increases in its cross-sectional area from the conduit 54 to the spreading devices 24 and 25. With this rapid expansion of the fuel inlet part of the housing 13, I provide for an even free flow of the fuel upwardly, and so further guard against any tendency of the fuel to pack or otherwise collect in the passage from the conveyor conduit IE to the firing opening l2.

As shown in Figure 2, a lower portion 42 of the housing l3 has an upper edge portion 45 adjacent the lower edge 4! of the firing opening l2. The edge 45, in effect, forms a ledge over which fuel passes flowing from the housing l3 to the firing opening l2.

Positioned in the lower portion of the firing opening i2 is a blast chamber 33 and a distributor plate 34 which serve to effectively distribute the fuel to all parts of the fire bed. Any suitable blasting device or distributor plate may be used in combination with the other elements of this type of stoker mechanism.

The tender hopper I9 is equipped atits delivery end with a crushing device 35, preferably arranged adjacent to and partially encompassing the conveyor I8. This crushing device may be of any suitable character that would efficiently break up large lumps of fuel and reduce them to a size that would readily pass through the housing and feeding device.

The power device 2!, as shown, is similar in construction to that disclosed in my U. S. Patent 1,577,462, in which the primary transmission element comprises a rack and pinion and this form has proven entirely satisfactory, but it will be understood that any other suitable forms of power device and transmission elements may be used for this purpose.

In the operation of this stoker mechanism the coal passes through the deck of the tender into the trough of the tender hopper l9 and is conducted by means of the conveyor E8 to the crushing device 35 where any abnormally large lumps of coal may be broken up to normal size. The fuel is then deliver-ed by the conveyor I8 to the transfer conveyor l which conducts it to the ascending conduit formed by the housing extension l4 and the lower portion 42 of the housing l3. As hereinbefore described, the conduit l4 and the lower portion 42 of the housing l 3 rapidly increase in crosssectional area from the points at which the conduit l4 joins conduit i6, and thus the column of fuel entering the conduit l 4 and the lower portion of the housing l3 from the conduit it, continues to flow upwardly, impelled by the conveyor l5 for a short distance without encountering any resistance because the expanding walls of the conduit formed by the extension !4 and the housing !3 relieve any pressure which may tend to build up between the column of fuel and the walls. The column of fuel continuing its upward path ascends to the feeding or spreading devices 24 and 25 which serve to break up the mass of the rising column of fuel and spread it in the fuel conditioning housing l3. Further, these rotating vanes 24 and 25 tend to serve as a continuation of the conveyor l5 by pushing and carrying the fuel forward to cause it to flow over the edge 40 into the firing opening i2 and on to the blast chamber 33 and distributing plate 34 and above the level of the fire. The blast chamber 33 distributes the fuel and prepares it for reception by the distributor plate 34, from which it is distributed over the fire by means of blasts of steam emitting from the blast chamber.

As hereinbefore pointed out the feeding or spreading devices 24 and 25 accomplish many new results. For example, I have found that with this arrangement of the spreading devices 24 and 25, I can thoroughly 7 and effectively spread or level the fuel entering the housing l3 whether the fuel is wet or dry, packed or loose.

This leveling of the fuel before it reaches the edge 40 and the blast chamber and distributing plates 33 and 34 respectively is highly desirable for an efficient operation of the distributing plates, for if the fuel does not enter the firing opening distributed evenly over the edge 49 it may fall in large uneven lumps on to the distributing plate, and in such a way as to practically prevent any effective action by the blast chamber to distribute the'fuel to the far and near corners of the fire bed.

Another advantage of the arrangement of the spreaders 24 and 25 which I have shown in this embodiment is that they form no obstacle to the flow of fuel emerging into the housing 93 from the conduit l4, but rather serve to level and forward the fuel to the firing opening I2.

While I have shown and described a particular construction embodying the novel features of this invention, it is to be understood. that this is for the purpose of illustration only and that this construction may be variously modified and al-' 'ing'withsaid firing opening, the lower edge of said delivery opening forming a ledge over which fuel fiows in passing to said firing opening, said housing also having a fuel supply inlet; and

rotatable spreading and feeding means inclined upwardly from the rear of said housing to positions immediately adjacent the respective ends of said ledge, for spreading fuel entering from said fuel supply inlet, in said housingand causing it to flow over said ledge in a regulated stream.

2. In combination with a fire box having a firing opening, a stoker mechanism including a housing having a delivery opening communicating with said firing opening, the lower edge of said delivery opening forming a ledge over which fuel fiows in passing to said firing opening, said housing also having a'fuel supply inlet; and a plurality of worms mounted for rotation in a rear wall of said housing and inclined upwardly to positions immediately adjacent said ledge, for

aiding and regulating the flow of fuel entering from said fuel supply inlet over said ledge.

3. In combination with a fire box having a firing opening, a stoker mechanism including a housing having a delivery opening communicating with said firing opening, and the lower edge of said delivery opening forming a ledge over which fuel flows in passing to said firing opening; said housing also having a fuel supply inlet; and at least one rotatable tapering worm inclined upwardly from the rear of said housing to a position immediately adjacent said ledge, for

aiding and regulating the fiow of fuel entering from said fuel supply inlet, over said ledge.

4. In a stoker mechanism the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance of a conduit provided with means for moving fuel from a source of fuel supply to said entrance, the upper end of said conduit embracing said entrance and being provided with a ledge over which fuel fiows to said entrance, means for distributing fuel fed to said entrance upon and over the fire, and a pair of tapered worms mounted in the wall of said conduit away from said entrance andextending forwardly from a plane below said ledge to positions immediately adjacent the ends ofsaid ledge whereby fuel moving up through said conduit is caused to flow over I said ledge and through said entrance in a regulated stream, said rotary worms acting on'the side and rear portions of said stream.

5. In a. stoker mechanism the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance of a conduitprovided with means for moving fuel from a source of fuel supply to said entrance, the upper end of said conduit embracing said entrance and being provided with a ledge over which fuel fiows to said entrance, means for distributing fuel fed to said entrance upon and over the fire, and fuel conditioning and regulating means interposed between said fuel moving means and said fuel distributing means comprising a pair of rotary worms mounted in the conduit and extending'fr'om the wall of "said conduit low said ledge to positions slightly above said ledge whereby said worms condition and regu late and elevate said fuel.

6. In a stoker mechanism the combination with a fire box having a fuel entrance'of a conduit provided with means for moving fuel from a source of fuel supply to said entrance, the upper end of said conduit embracing said entrance and being provided with a ledge over which fuel fiows to said entrance, means for distributing fuel fed to said entrance upon and over the fire, and a pair of worms mounted in the wall of said conduit away from said entrance and extending forwardly from a plane below said ledge to positions immediately adjacent the ends of said ledge whereby fuel moving up through said elevating conduit is to said entrance upon and over the fire, and fuel:

conditioning and regulatingmeans mounted in said conduit including a rotary tapered worm extending from a position at the rear wall of said conduit not above the line of said ledge to a position immediately adjacent said ledge.

8. In a stoker mechanism, the combination with a fire box having a firing opening, of a transfer conduit for conveying the fuel from a source of fuel to the firing opening, said transfer conduit being enlarged at its delivery end and embracing the firing opening and having a hand-firing opening in a rearward wall thereof and aligned with said firing opening, fuel moving means for moving fuel in said conduit, fuel distributing means associated with said firing opening for. distributing fuel fed thereto in the fire box, a rotary worm mounted in the enlarged portion of said conduit and below the hand-firing opening and extending transversely of the enlarged portion of the conduit, and forwardly. from' the rear thereof,

said'worm aiding the presentation of the fuel to the fuel distributing means.

'9. In a stoker mechanism, the combination with a fire box having a firing opening, of a transfer conduit for conveying the fuel from a source of fuel to the firing opening, said transfer conduit embracing the firing opening and having a hand-' firing opening in a rearward wall thereof and aligned with said firing opening, fuel moving means for moving fuel in said conduit, fuel distributing means associated with said firing opening for distributing fuel fed thereto in the fire box, and fuel regulating means comprising a pair of rotary tapered worms mounted in the rear wall of the conduit below the hand-firing opening and extending upwardly from a plane below the lower edge of the firing opening to points adjacent the respective ends thereof for regulating presentation ,of the fuel to the fuel distributing means.

10. In a stoker mechanism, the combination with a fire box having a firing opening of a con.- duit for conveying fuel from a sourceto said firing opening, the upper end of said conduit embracing said opening and having adjacent the lower edge of the firing opening a horizontal ledge over which fuel flows through said firing opening,

of said delivery opening forming a ledge over which fuel flows in passing to said firing opening; said housing also having a fuel supply inlet; and at least one rotatable tapering worm disposed within said housing and extending upwardly from a point rearward of and below said ledge to a position immediately adjacent said ledge for aiding and regulating the flow of fuel entering from said fuel supply inlet over said ledge.

WILLIAM THOMPSON HANNA. 

